How to pick the perfect PowerPoint template

The marriage of great content and compelling design can result in a truly successful PowerPoint presentation. Unfortunately, too often we witness couplings that someone should have objected to at the start.

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Check out these important, basic qualities to embrace and (some to avoid) when choosing your PowerPoint design template:

Instant message—What are you trying to say?
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Is your PowerPoint presentation the BIG PITCH for that new client you’ve been courting?

Don’t let them be the ones that got away.

When mulling over the qualities of PowerPoint slide templates, think about your brand. Is it corporate or casual? Suits or sweats? Progressive or conservative? What should your PowerPoint presentation design communicate about you and your brand message?

For example, a business-themed PowerPoint presentation should be clean, crisp and straightforward.

Bold, colorful design is exhilarating and energetic, and especially effective at being an audience magnet. (Who doesn’t like bright colors and shiny things?!)

Hey, good lookin’—visual appeal
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There are plenty of stock templates out there that are reasonably attractive. They’re functional. They serve your purpose. But are they memorable?

via Microsoft

Generic is okay, but not particularly sexy. Instead, seek out designs that are visually appealing, that you haven’t seen a million times at a thousand other meetings. Choose designs that work for you, complimenting your brand and your message. Don’t settle for designs that just sit there like a lump, while you do all the talking.

Visually appealing templates offer PowerPoint slides that allow you to balance imagery with text in ways that are interesting, polished and attractive. In the above presentation, simple graphics, photos and text are used sparingly so as not to overwhelm the audience with too much information. At the same time, colors are vibrant, images are appealing and branding carries through from start to finish.

Endless possibilities—Layout options
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Don’t get tied down to a template that only offers you a title page and text page. Instead, search for templates with a master slide and multiple layout options.

Something that will support not only text and images, but graphs, tables and charts as well.

Most importantly, choose a template that is editable, with the ability to change to suit your needs. (Unlike your ex.)

Either one of these design templates would be a good catch for your PowerPoint presentation. Both allow for customization of layout and design on interior pages, while still maintaining common colors and themes throughout.

Other considerations—where will you put your images? How are the slides designed to support both graphics and text? (Don’t fall in love with potential. Make sure it actually works for you.)

The author

At age 7, after penning her critically acclaimed autobiography, Kris discovered the satisfaction derived from crafting well-written prose. A career emerged. When she isn’t running 5Ks or imagining (aka, deluding herself) that George Clooney is secretly in love with her, she’s exploring new ways to make a kajillion dollars as a freelance writer. Apparently, posting to Facebook every day, all day long is not as lucrative as one might think.